General FIFA World Cup 2026 Discussion

FFS

🚨 𝗢𝗙𝗙𝗜𝗖𝗜𝗔𝗟: There will be a World Cup final HALF-TIME show just like the Super-Bowl. 🎶

An absolutely DISGUSTING development. pic.twitter.com/9xfafzArL4

— Football Tweet ⚽ (@Footballtweet) December 5, 2025

 

Ole's assertion makes me laugh

 

RB* Anselmino is gonna go for that spot!!!!

 

Scaloni will probably have to rotate his teams quite a bit in the group stages. No point of playing the starters all 3 games, especially if we win our first two games. Messi needs to rest and I would go as far as saying let him chill for the first game and the third. If he wants to come in the last 30 minutes or so, then fine.

 

As of today, my squad of 26

GK: E. Martinez (33), Rulli (34), Benitez (33)
RB: Molina (28), Montiel (29)
CB: Romero (28), L. Martinez (28), Anselmino (21), Otamendi (38)
LB: Tagli (33), Valentin Gomez (22)

RCM: De Paul (32), Equi (23), Barco (21)
DM: Enzo (25), Paredes (32)
LCM: MacAllister (27), Lo Celso (30), Paz (21)

RW: Messi (39), Soule (23), Giuliano (23)
FW: Alvarez (26), Martinez (28)
LW: Almada (25), Nico Gonzales (28)

 

Anselmino and Gomez both should be key members of the squad, we need youth and athleticism in defence against teams like England and France.

Also I genuinely do not understand why De Paul should have a spot in the team over Perrone, beyond friendship tax.

 

Let me ask this… Based on talent and merit who did not go to Qatar that should’ve gone? I’m talking not being injured and etc…

 

Honestly this looks really good... multiple versatile players that Scaloni can just interchange based off form.

 

Aright, just going back at the scenarios on who we may play. I think it is fair to say the Gallegos will be winners of the group. Can things happen? Sure... But it is interesting that Saudi Arabia and Uruguay will play each other first. The Saudi's could very well beat Uruguay. They'll be up for it, and I think they will be thinking if they could beat Uruguay and can Cape Verde, they will be fine. Uruguay and Spain play each other last. A lot could be played for during this game, at least for Uruguay. But I think we will say it will be either Uruguay or the Saudis coming second from that group.

We SHOULD finish first, right? So, we either play Uruguay or the Saudis in the R32... Our next opponents will be either the winners of the runners-up from groups D v G in the R16.

Let's take a look at Group G.

Belgium
Egypt
Iran
NZ....

This is a VERY soft group. Belgium is not as good as they once were but they should top the group.... The runners-up... Who the hell knows from the rest of those teams... Egypt?

Group D.

US
Paraguay
Australia
Turkey/Romania..

Okay... The idiots on American media are already saying the US will win this group... I do not think it is that easy. Alfaro will have his team ready and Paraguay is not a bad side. Turkey has quality and the Aussies will surely give the US a problem... I am tempted to say that the US will not win this group and could even struggle. This group is a bit more unpredictable, IMO.

But nevertheless, Egypt v let's say Paraguay/USA/Turkey...and we play the winner of that in the R16 won't be too bad....

I also think Colombia could 100% win their group as well. They have the support and will play Portugal in either Miami or Atlanta in the group stages. GD matters...


I mean, in many ways, we could play
R32- Uruguay
R16Paraguay
Quarters-Colombia.

Our opponents for the R32 and R16 is relatively straightforward(If we finish first)... After that, it is a bit tricky. I know there is a big story of who we may play in the QFs because, for example, if Italy ends up qualifying and wins their group, they will face the winners of the Colombia/Portugal group in the R16.

Also, we were a bit fortunate not to fall into E or I... Because A, both of those groups are tough...

Group E-
Germany
Ecuador
Ivory Coast


Group I
France
Cameroon
Norway...

And B, let's say Germany and France both win their group... They will play each other in the R16... Not the quarters, the R16. If one finishes first and the other second, they play each other in the 32. Even worse!

If Brasil finishes second in their group, they could potentially play the Dutch in the R32.


So....If Brasil finish second, they would play the winner of Group F in the Round of 32, probably the Netherlands, and if they win that match they would face the winner of A2 versus B2 in the Round of 16, usually a team like Mexico, South Korea, Switzerland, or Canada.

If Brasil finish first and either France or Germany finish second, then Brasil could run into whichever one slipped to second in the Round of 16. The Brazucas only avoids both of them early if France and Germany both win their groups.


Aright... My head hurts...

 

I am pleased to announce that the inaugural "Leon12 is the greatest person in the world" medal has been awarded to Leon12. The award was presented to Leon12 by Leon12.

 

RDP and Perrone have different profiles and role responsibility. Perrone would be competing against the likes of Enzo, Paredes and even MacAllister in that deep playmaking role

 

Yellow Card Suspensions will be a massive challenge in this WC now that it's 8 games now and if we do meet Uruguay in the round of 32, I'm sure there will be a lot of yellows.

As of today considering form and injuries, this is my starting XI (of course a lot can change and will change)

Soule--------Julian--------Messi
-----------Paz--------Barco
-----------------Enzo
Tags-----Ansel--Romero---Molina
-----------------Dibu

 

Perrone passes well all over midfield and defends well in both his own half and on the press. What he needs to do more often although it is not his primary responsibility at Como is to create more goals and also take more chances. That would make him completely complete.

The rest of it he can do what de Paul does who was an AM before he developed as an all round dynamo in midfield. Lopez would for me be a great option if we need to have that aerial presence late on if we are chasing a result. The lad wins almost everything in the air.

GK: E. Martinez (33), Rulli (34), Benitez (33)

RB: Molina (28), Montiel (29)
CB: Romero (28), Senesi (28), Anselmino (21), Foyth (27) or Rivero (22)
LB: Tagliafico (33), Gomez (22)

RCM: De Paul (32), E.Fernandez (23),
DM: E.Fernandez (25), Perrone (23)
LCM: MacAllister (27), Lo Celso (30), Paz (21)

RW: Messi (39), Soule (23), Simeone (23)
FW: Alvarez (26), Martinez (28), Lopez (25)
LW: Almada (25), Barco (21)

 

I think the only people that could or will make the 26 side that weren’t there in 22 are going to be(Not counting goalies).

As of right now.

Equi
Paz
Perrone
Giuliano
Nico G
Senesi/Balerdi

That’s about it.

 

Better than expected

Staying the same time zone (not much difference to the Eastern Time), not much travel, staying in the same city for consecutive match and 2 games are at evening time.

I believe the stadium in Dallas is a closed stadium so the heat should not be a problem vs Austria.

 

Just looking at some of our potential opponents... Uruguay will play there first two games in Miami but then have to travel all the way to Zapopan to play Spain... That's a long trip...

Colombia also plays their first two games in Mexico then travels to Miami.

 

pic.twitter.com/488HDeybCl

— Out Of Context Football (@nocontextfooty) December 6, 2025

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The Great One needs to start reading a bit more...

 

I guess rest wouldn't be an issue as the crappy part is that Spain vs Uruguay happen on Fri. 6/26 and Argentina plays Jordan on Sat. 6/27, but the game vs Jordan shouldn't be challenging. Plus if we top the group, we have 6 days of rest before the round of 32 game.

We just need to hope that there's injuries and red card of Spain vs Uruguay